Three people dead on Northland’s coastline in eight days

Water safety advocates are reminding people to be safe around the water after three deaths on Northland's coastline in the last two weeks. Photo / NZME

Three people have died on Northland’s coastline in eight days, prompting a warning from the country’s leading water safety advocates.

Wellington mum Traci Te Paa, 37, died on Christmas Eve while reportedly trying to save her daughter and nephew from a rip at remote Far North beach Waimamaku.

A snorkeller died after being pulled unresponsive from the water at Bland Bay, Whangaruru, on New Year’s Eve.

The third death – unreported until now – was 20-year-old Jessie Lawrence Walker from Hamilton.

He reportedly fell to his death on December 28 while climbing down a cliff to a fishing spot near Elliot Bay, north of Whangaruru.

Walker was discovered that afternoon by another fisherman and his son, who contacted the police.

All three beaches where the deaths occurred have no lifeguards despite Bland Bay and Elliot Bay being popular holiday destinations and Waimamaku Beach a favourite among surfers.

Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Daniel Gerrard being a nation with the tenth longest coastline in the world posed a complex challenge.

“There will never be a day where we can patrol the entire environment.”

Lifeguards currently patrol six beaches in Northland – Ahipara, Ocean Beach in Whangārei Heads, Ruakākā, Waipu Cove, Mangawhai Heads and Baylys Beach.

Leaving much of the region’s coastline – a major tourism drawcard – unmanned.

In Northland, Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is funded by the Northland Regional Council but is still limited in what resources they have.

SLSNZ Northern operations manager James Lea said the location of patrols depended on the evidence around the risk level.

“A lot of our patrols have been set up of course around accidents, incidents, near misses but also on the head count activity.”

Lea said a solution could be to work alongside local surf clubs to develop satellite locations.

He said surf lifesaving’s around-the-clock Far North Search and Rescue Squad based in Ahipara has the ability to travel.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand operations manager [Northern] James Lea.

Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Daniel Gerrard said this year was the safest on record but the death toll was a reminder there was work to do.

“Personal responsibility is the absolute solution to this wicked problem.”

Surf Life Saving and Coastguard received a boost of more than $63 million over four years as part of Budget 2024 but Gerrard said prevention work was vital.

“Unless we start focusing on the preventable work, those rescue services are going to be overwhelmed.”

Lea said it was important people read signs and checked for equipment at unmanned beaches.

“If someone is getting into trouble, if we can get them flotation, that’s going to interrupt the drowning process.”

Often that did not require getting in the water but calling 111 and finding an item the person can float with to buy emergency services more time.

“It could be a soccer ball, rugby ball, a bucket turned upside down or a chilly bin,” Lea said.

Surf Life Saving NZ lifeguards patrol Northland's coastline - but many people still flock to unmanned locations. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Gerrard believed the best prevention was to visit patrolled locations.

He said choosing to enjoy locations where lifeguards were not present came with its own set of risks so it was important to never go alone and know how to spot a rip.

Gerrard noted that alcohol played an increasing role in the country’s drowning statistics.

Research has found alcohol was involved in between 30% to 40% of drowning deaths but Gerrard believed the number was likely higher.

He urged people to leave the booze at home.